Private Outdoor Guiding

Customized Outdoor Climbing Experiences

Hiring a private Vermont climbing guide can introduce you to the world of outdoor rock climbing, ice climbing, and mountain sports or take your skills to the next level. Climbers and skiers often hit plateaus that will eventually be broken through with time, but private climbing instruction can eliminate some of the trial and error processes and help you focus on better climbing technique, providing immediate feedback and general education to your specific needs. Private climbing instruction can be reserved any day of the week. We require at least 10 days notice to book private guides: please reach out well in advance of your desired dates.


Private Guiding Rates

Full Day Rates (7 hours, 9am-4pm)

Number of People & Cost Per Person

1: $350 per person

2: $250 per person

3: $225 per person

4+: $175 per person

*Out of state (NH, NY) add $45

Half Day Rates (4 hours)

Number of People & Cost Per Person

1: $235 per person

2: $175 per person

3: $165 per person

4+: $130 per person

*VT destinations only

Larger Objective/Remote Cliff (8+ hours)

Examples: Lake Willoughby, Cannon, Poke-O, & beyond. Check out our climbing destinations map for more inspiration!

Cost varies based on the number of people, objective, & driving distance. Please inquire below for a custom quote.


Discounts available:

Petra Cliffs Members: 10% off, use code MEMBER10
Booking multiple consecutive days: first day full price, then 10% off additional days
Returning guests: refer a new guest and receive $25 off a future guided day


7 Reasons to Hire a Climbing Guide

Guides have training, experience, & professionalism; they adhere to industry standards & quality

  • Guides are rigorously trained and certified: look for an AMGA (American Mountain Guides Association) certification. AMGA Certified Guides undergo intense training and examination. Certification by the AMGA indicates that an individual has been assessed to the standard of an internationally recognized, professional body. By hiring a guide you get professionalism, comprehensive knowledge, industry approved best practices, and high quality experiences.

Guides give you attention & tailored learning

  • By hiring a private guide you get a personalized experience and your guides full attention. This means you can ask all the questions you want (there are no silly questions!) and that your guide can adapt instruction to fit your goals, skills, and learning style. 

Guides provide you with education, confidence, good habits, & tricks of the trade

  • Hiring a private guide means you are getting the best education from the finest teachers: this means you can build skills and develop good habits with the confidence that you are learning the very best industry standards and recommendations, not to mention tricks of the trade from guides with years of experience. 

Guides have valuable local knowledge & beta, which means the best use of your time

  • Guides have immense local knowledge and can be an invaluable resource when it comes to learning about an area or specific objective. They bring the best beta and save time that you might otherwise spend trying to decode the guidebook.

Guides are trained for safety & risk management

  • Safety and risk management is a top priority: AMGA guides are trained to recognize objective hazards, such as avalanche danger, rock fall potential, and bad weather, and they are drilled in self-rescue skills. Hiring a guide means you can rest easy knowing that you are in good hands: guides know how to mitigate risk, evaluate situations that arise, and respond to any incidents that may occur. 

Guides provide environmental & access awareness

  • Guides are hyper-aware of best practices to limit impacts on the environment and maintain the natural areas we recreate in for generations to come. Guides are also up-to-date on access considerations: hiring a guide gives you a window into local climbing access and ethics which helps maintain access to climbing areas for all. 

Guides are awesome people, funny, and have personal stories and learning experiences to share

  • Guides are a ton of fun! Everything you want from a climbing partner: supportive, enthusiastic, and always cracking jokes. Hiring a guide means you get to spend the day with an awesome person with lots of good stories and personal experiences to share. Ask and you shall receive!


We provide mentorship opportunities for recreational climbers and those looking to pursue professional guiding certifications:

Mountaineering School FAQ’s